Roofing apparatus



June 7, 1966 H. M. RAPP 3,254,623

ROOFING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1964 v 5 Sheets-Sheet l HMRAPP INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY June 7, 1966 Filed June 22, 1964 H. M. RAPP ROOFING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. M. RAPP INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY June 7, 1966 I H. M. RAPP 3,2 ,6 3

ROOFING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. M. RAPP INVENTOR ATTOR NEY United States Patent ice 3,254,623 ROOFING APPARATUS Harry Michael Rapp, 3111 Sunlite, Amarillo, Tex. Filed June 22, 1964, Ser. No. 376,997

2 Claims. (Cl. 118-122) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 85,805, filed January 30, 1961, now United States Patent No. 3,148,104, issued September 8, 1964. This application relates to an im-' apparatus which is convenient to use and has a minimum I of moving parts.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art on the study of the below specification and hereto attached drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification and in which drawings the same reference numerals apply to the same parts throughout, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is generally a side and perspective view of an apparatus according to this invention when empty;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG URE 1 and as seen in the direction of arrow 2A of FIG- URE 1 and full;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of zone 4A of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 5 is an oblique and sectional interior view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 when said apparatus is empty, this view partly in perspective and also illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view along plane 6A-6B of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional'view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 taken along the direction of plane 6A-6B of FIGURE 2 when said apparatus is in an operative position and with fluid therein;

FIGURE 7 is a view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 1 shown as in FIGURE 6 while in another operative position with fluid therein; and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 shown as in FIGURE 6 while the components of that apparatus are in a position for cleaning.

The apparatus generally shown and referred to as 10, of this invention comprises a container subassembly 12, a webbing roll support and positioning subassembly 14 and a leveler subassembly 16.

The container subassembly comprises an open-topped container 20, a handle subassembly 22 therefor and a wheel support subassembly 24 therefor.

The open-topped container comprises a top opening 25, a flat rigid bottom wall 26, a rigid left side wall 27, a rigid right side wall 28, a rigid rear wall 29, a rigid sloped :front end wall and a rigid vertical front end wall 31. These walls are joined together as shown in FIGURES l-8 to form a liquid-tight rigid container open at its top.

A rigid shaped wooden bar 33 extends straight across the top of the wall 31 from the left side wall 27 to the right side wall 28. Member 33 has a straight firm top portion 35 which is semi-circular in cross-sectional outline and a lower firm rigid reinforcing portion 37 firmly attached to the upper curved portion 33 as one integral piece in the particular'preferred embodiment 10 herein shown and discussed. Member 33 has a substantial height to provide for such rigidity. The lower portion 37 is 3,254,623 Patented June 7, 1966 The handle subassembly 22 comprises control arms 50 and 52 and an operator bar 54. The left container control arm 50 is rigid and straight and fixedly attached to the left side plate 27, the right container control arm 52 is straight and rigid and also fixedly attached, as by bolts 56 and 57, to the right side plate 28; both arms 50 and 52 extend upward and rearward from the container 20 in a parallel plane for the same distance upward and rearward. Operator bar 54 is a rigid cylindrical bar parallel to the floor 26 and connected at its ends to the bars 50 and 52. Bars 50 and 52 are parallel to each other.

Floor 26 of the container 20 is attached to and supported on a 'rigid beam 40. A pair of L-shaped brackets 41 and 42 are fixedly attached to beam 40 and support a wheel 43, while brackets 44 and 45 fixed to beam 40 support a wheel 46. The wheel 43 is supported on a horizontal axle 47 in brackets 41 and 42 and wheel 46 is supported on a horizontal axle 48 in the brackets 45 and 44.

The center lines of arms 50 and S2 determine a plane. This plane passes through the line of the axles 47 and 48.

The web support and positioning subassembly comprises a webbing roll support bar 61, a roll of webbing 62, webbing support arms 64 and 65, immersion bar 67 and immersion bar support arms 69 and 70. v

The roll support bar 61 is a cylindrical rod such as of wood; it is solid, rigid and firm, and does not interfere with the rotation of the webbing roll 62 which is sup- .ported thereon. Bar 61 is rotatably supported at its ends in a rigid left webbing roll bar support arm 64 and a rigid right webbing roll bar support arm 65. Arm 64 is connected at its forward end to the left end of webbing imlower end of arm 70.

The rigid arm 69 is pivotally supported at its upper end on a pin 71 on the left side wall 27 and the rigid arm 70 is supported pivotally at its upper end by a pin 72 firmly fixed to the wall 28. The immersion roller bar 67 is located vertically below pins 71 and 72 when the floor 26 is in horizontal position.

The leveling subassembly 16 comprises a left leveler blade positioning subassembly 79, a right leveler blade positioning subassembly 80, a leveler blade 83 and the shaped bar 33. The right leveler blade positioning subassembly comprises a spring plate 81, a leveler blade locater plate 82, a spring 84, and an adjusting screw 85; subassembly 79 comprises a spring plate 91, a blade locating plate 92, a spring 94, and an adjusting screw items 81, 82, 84, and 85 are mirror images of 91, 92, 94, and 95; accordingly, the below description of items 81, 82, 84, and 85 also applies to items 91, 92, 94, and 95.

Spring plate 81 is a rigid L-shaped element having an outwardly projecting rigid lip 86 to which the tension spring 84 is attached. The plate 81 also comprises an upper flat vertical rigid element 88 firmly affixed to the wall 28.

The locater plate 82 is also an L-shaped rigid element having a rigid vertical portion 89 firmly attached to the outer surface of wall 28 and an outwardly and laterally projecting rigid ledge 90; a threaded hole is provided in the ledge 90 for the attachment of an adjustment screw 85.

The leveler blade 83 is a straight rigid L-sectioned steel bar having a straight flat horizontal portion 103 and a straight edged vertical portion 104. The left and right ends of the blade 83 are each provided with holes 106 and 105, respectively for attachment to the springs 94 and 84. The spring 84 extends from the hole in the lip 86 to the hole 105 in the plate 103 of leveler blade 83. correspondingly, spring 94 extends from the corresponding horizontal portion of plate 91 to the hole 106 in the blade 83.

A straight line running between the bottom of the slots 98 and 99 runs along the top of the curved and rigid portion 35. Setscrews 85 and 95 bear against the lower surface of member 103 of bar 83 and, with slots 89 and 99, support that bar 83 with the bottom edge 107 of portion 104 slightly spaced away-usually inch to inchfrom the top of surface 35.

A vertically extending slot 98 in elements 89 and 99 for the corresponding element 92 form a seat for the vertical flat portion 104 of member 83. The member 83 is able to move up and down in that slot depending on the location of the setscrews 85 and 95 with the member 83 urged downwardly by the tension springs 84 and 94.

In operation of this device a roll of conventional glass fiber webbing or cotton webbing 62 of about 20 squares to the linear inch (400 per square inch) is supported on the bar 61 in the apparatus of FIGURE 1. Roofing tar asphalt liquid 111 is added to that container after the webbing has been brought to the position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, and the apparatus of FIGURE 1 is continuously moved in the'leftward direction shown by the arrow 119 (FIGURE 1). Sufiicient of the asphaltic material 111 is added to provide that the roller bar 67 is always kept below the surface of the material 111 in the container 20.

The roller 61 turns freely as Well as does the roller 67. The axes of the rollers 67, 61 and the center axis of the cylindrical surface 35 on member 33 are all parallel to each other.

In operation the apparatus 10 is supported by an upward force on the handle 54 and the wheels 43 and 46 resting on a surface 120. The center of gravity of the container 20 and the fluid therein in the operative position and motion of apparatus 10 tends to rotate the apparatus 10 in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 1, while the tension developed during operation of the apparatus 10 toward the right-hand portion of surface 120 to which the sheet 63 is attached overcomes that torque and thereby permits the operator to look downward into the open top of the container 20 and to have a view, generally as shown in FIGURE 2, of the level of liquid in the apparatus during the operation and add liquid or change the angle 130 (below discussed) as needed.

The sheet 63 dispensed from the roll of webbing 62 on unrolling thereof in part (while the remainder of the roll is supported on bar 61) passes downwardly through the volume of asphalt 111 in container 20 to the bottom of the roller 67. Therefrom the sheet of webbing 63 passes over the front curved surface below the edge 107 of blade 83 out and to the roof surface 120, to which surface such sheet of webbing 63 is to be applied. The volume 111 of asphalt primer or roof coating contained in the box reaches a level as 114, which level is indicated by the pegs as 122125 on arm 69 or may be readily visibly observed by the operator. The roller bar 67 forces asphaltic material downwardly through the webbing 63 through the top portion of the interstices of the webbing and evenly over saidwebbing surface. On further passage of the Webbing upward through the volume 111 toward its upper surface 114 and upward therefrom to surface 35, asphaltic material adherent to the webbing sheet is carried upward on the top and on the bottom surfaces of the webbing. The angle of rise of the sheet 63 is sufiistices of the webbing.

The lower edge of leveler blade 83 contacts the layer 110 of asphalt on top of sheet 63 and provides for even spreading of that asphaltic liquid across the entire width of the top surface of webbing passing between the curved surface 35 and the lower edge 107 of blade 83 via slot 108 also therebetween.

The thus-impregnated webbing is continually brought into contact with the roof surface 120 by the action of the weight of the webbing plus tar and the strong adhesion of the layer of tar (109) on the lowersurface of webbing 63 for the surface 120 along a line 121 about 3 feet from wall 31;

Generally, this invention provides for automatically, conveniently, evenly, efliciently, and rapidly applying to the bottom side of a webbing a suflicient amount of roofing tar to make such webbing firmly adhere to the roof surface to which applied, and also, to carry to that roof a substantial amount of tar on top of the webbing sufliciently to protect the webbing.

This is done, generally, by forcing the tar or asphalt material to pass downward through the webbing and then upward through the webbing with removal of excess tar or asphalt. This application and removal is done evenly over the entire area of the webbing. Following such proper application of the asphaltic adhesive material to the webbing, the webbing so treated with such adhesive and carrying that adhesive is applied onto the roof. The application of the asphalt material to the webbing and the application of the thus-treated webbing to the roof are accomplished automatically on movement of the apparatus 10, carrying such webbing and the material to impregnate such webbing, across the zone to which such webbing is to be applied. By the apparatus of this invention the roofing tar is kept at a predetermined and readily controlled height above the bottom of the immersion roller 67. Pressure is then applied to one side of the webbing by the cylindrical roller, 67, at an angle to the plane of travel of said webbing when the webbing is drawn against said rollers surface so that such surface presses the tarry material between said roller and said webbing against the webbing. This action forces tar into the interstices of the webbing all along the width of said webbing in an even manner. Inasmuch as there is tar in the interstices as well as on the surface of the webbing, such webbing has a greater affinity for holding tar on both upper and lower surfaces of such webbing than would be the case if the interstices were not so filled. The straight-edged leveler 83 is applied above the level 114 of the tar to the upper surface of said thustreated webbing and exerts a compressive force along its lower edge 107 parallel to and close to a straight line in the surface of the semi-cylindrically shaped, smooth, firm surface 35. Surface 35 forces tar through the Webbing 63 in a direction opposite to that effected by the immersion roller 67. The edge 107 on the upper side of the webbing cooperates with surface 35 to limit the thickness of tarry material 1110 carried along on the top surface of the webbing. This edge 10-7 is resiliently held downward in position by the springs 84 and 94 and held with a minimum vertical spacing by the screws and these screws are adjustably supported in slotted brackets as 82 and 92.

The webbing is thus thoroughly and evenly impregnated with roofing material automatically; the amount of such material thus added to the webbing is readily predetermined and controlled by setting of the distance between the bar 83 and the surface 35, as well as by controlling the height of the liquid 111 over the immersion roller 67. The thus evenly tar-impregnated and tar- 3,254,eaa

bearing webbing is brought into contact with a roofing surface to which that tape is to be applied. The force holding webbing 63 downward is the adhesive force of the adhesive 109 on the bottom of the webbing to the surface as 120 to which such tape is to be applied. The weight of the sheet of webbing and the tar impregnated therein and the extremely small angle between the plane of the webbing and the plane of the surface to which that webbing is to be applied because of the low height of the top of surface 35 according to the structure of the apparatus avoids :wind catching underneath the webbing and results in a smooth application of the impregnated webbing without necessitating any additional parts than provided by apparatus 10.

The above-mentioned consecutive steps occur concurrently for each of the increments of webbing from a roll as 62 that are continuously and consecutively laid on a roof as 120 while the supply of such webbing is moved continuously over the area which is to be covered by the thus-impregnated webbing.

According to the design of apparatus of this invention, a minimum sump of liquid as shown in FIGURE 8 at 1111 is provided. This minimum volume of liquid provides for a dissolving away or carrying whatever lumps of material may solidify during operation in the bottom of the chamber 20 and this sump, shown as 11 1 in FIGURE 8 which is located above the sloped front end wall portion 30, between the front vertical wall portion 31 and the front portion of the bottom wall 26 is so arranged as to provide a minimum volume of fluid contained in that container at any time during operation; as a matter of fact, as above described according to the operation of this device, the device will become inoperable and clearly so to the operator, prior to when only such minimum volume of fluid is in the container. Accordingly, this structure provides this aspect which prevents lumping of the adhesive material.

By this invention the arms 64 and 65 and 69 and 70 are readily moved from the position shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 8 when it is desired to clean the apparatus. Movement of the arms into such position as shown in FIGURE 8 opens up the entire volume of the container 20 for easy access with a rag or other cleaning implement to entirely clean it out. Roofing tar has a propensity to stick, become solid and thereafter, if allowed to remain in the container, to make further application of tar from such a container difiicult. This apparatus 10 permits very ready cleaning and, accordingly, provides for that all asphaltic lumps be removed from the apparatus so that the fluid and webbing to be passed through the narrow space between the bar 83-and the rounded surface 35 will not have any lumps; accordingly, a non-lumpy fluid is obtained in the container and a uniform distribution of tar from such container is provided.

According .to this invention the apparatus 10 provides a chamber 20 wherein, with the same volume of liquid 111 in container 20, the height thereof above the roller 67 changes as the angle 130 between the bottom of the floor 26 of the compartment '20 and the roof surface 120 is varied; alternatively, according .to this invention, the depth of liquid, i.e., the top of the liquid level 114 above the roller 67 may be maintained constant over the roller 67 to produce an even distribution of the fluid tar to and through the webbing 63 notwithstanding that the volume of tar in that container decreases and that no adjustment of that bar or roller 67 relative to the container 20 is required. As above described, the position of the bar 67 is fixed by the arms 69 and 70 and 64 and 65 relative to the bottom 26 and the rear wall 29, and the front wall 3 1 of the container 20. Accordingly, although the bar 67 is fixed relative to the structure .10 adjustment of the level of the liquid to roller 67, because of the structure of apparatus 10, is readily effected by the operator, through rotating the bar 54 and the arms 52 and 50 to change the position of the apparatus 20 as a whole (and angle 130) and thereby maintain the bar 67 at such depth below the level 114 as may be desired to effect such thickness of tar carried over the top of the webbing 63 as is desired: the position of the roller 67 relative to the top of level 114 of the fluid 111 in the apparatus is thus readily controlled by merely tipping of the apparatus '10 from the horizontal position of the floor 26 shown in FIGURE 6, to the tipped position shown in FIGURE 7.

According to this invention the large open top area of the container 20 provides for very convenient addition of liquid roofing tar thereto as needed to keep any desired level of fluid over the roller 67. This is facilitated by pegs 122, 123, 124, in the arm 69 and similar pegs in arm 70. These are spaced vertically apart at /z-inch intervals and provide to the operator convenient reference points for a determination and control of the level of the liquid over the roller 67 while keeping the height of slot 108 below edge 107 and the impregnated webbing therein within only a few inches of surface 120.

Accordingly, according to this invention, broadly a cylindrical immersion roller 67 is firmly supported for rotation about its longitudinal geometric axis at one position near the bottom of a. shallow, Wide-mouthed tank, the cross-section of which tank (20) transverse to the axis of rotation of such cylindrical roller is asymmetric. Accordingly, tipping of the container 20 readily permits maintenance of any desired small level of liquid above said roller. For instance, comparing FIGURES 6 and 7, in FIGURE 7 there is a substantially lesser volume of fluid but the angle made between the bottom 26 of the container and the ground 120 is larger and the'same height of liquid above the roller is maintained. This structure of apparatus 10 provides for maintaining a fixed height or pressure of fluid 111 in the zone 133 between the roller 67 and the webbing 63. This constant fluid head is obtained although the volume of liquid in the container 20 varies and without any relative movement of mechanical parts of the apparatus 19 as shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7. This control of fluid head of zone 133 also controls the amount of flow of liquid tar upwards through the interstices of the webbing due to suction created by the rotation of the roller 67 on movement leftward of the apparatus 10 and on movement rightward of the webbing relative to that apparatus. This thereby controls the amount of tar relatively firmly fixed to the interstices of the webbing during travel of the apparatus 10 along its relative rectilinear translation path 119.

The bar 83 fixes the amount of tar carried on the tops of webbing. This might create a pile-up of excess tar to be transferred from the volume of liquid, 111, to the surface 120. 'However, any tar which does pile up on the left side of the blade 83, as shown in FIGURE 6, is leveled along the top of webbing 63, and runs therealong to edges 135 and 137 of webbing sheet 63 and thence returns to the volume 111. The arms 64 and 65 are provided, respectively, with notches 74 and 75 which provide for firm yet releasable positioning of said arms on the top edge 77 of the rear wall 29 and of the bar or roller 67 with respect to floor 26.

To avoid spillage of tar from container 20 the top edge 77 of the rear wall 29 of the .container 20 is at a height above the bottom 26 less than the height of the top of the curved portion 35 and greater than the height of bottom of member 37 and approximately that of the bottom of portion 35, i.e., at the bottom of the curved portion of member 33. V

In operation the operator can see how close he is to the end of the webbing and add on another sheet as desired.

A conventional webbing as 62 comes in a roll of about feet and has a five-inch diameter and has a weave of about 20 threads per linear inch running both longitudinally and transversely.

The size of the weave is not critical to this operation, although some provision for greater depth of fluid is provided for the more closely woven fabrics and somewhat less for the less closely woven fabrics; however, the industry is pretty well standardized on the 20 x 20 Weave which is used in the above-described operation.

In operation of the apparatus of Table I and FIGURES 17 two men working together and applying a 24-inch Wide, 20 x 20 glass webbing regularly lay 50 squares, each square being 10 feet X 10 feet, in eight hours with a one-inch overlap and 3 gallons of tar per square on the webbing. Using the apparatus of Table II three men working together with 20 X 20 glass Webbing, 4 or 6 inches wide, lay 36 feet per minute.

The embodiment of Table II has no wheels and is narrower (side to side as from wall 27 to wall 28) than the embodiment of Table I but is otherwise the same as the embodiment of Table I and FIGURES 1-7.

In the manufacturing of roofing surfaces it is highly desirable to lay a layer of tarred Webbing over a roof so that the entire exterior roof surfacing comprises a webbing and tar thereover. This is a substantially stronger roof covering than heretofore available and lasts much longer than the conventional paper roof. Such webbing and tar may be applied directly onto a layer of plywood, as conventional 4 feet X 8 feet size, and this avoids the necessity of a separate paper-laying operation.

Also, a complete tar-impregnated layer of glass Webbing on top of a conventional tar paper roof is highly desirable because of the excellent weathering characteristics of such a surface completely consisting of tar-impregnated glass webbing as of 24-inch wide webbing with a one-inch overlap at the edges. The usual tar paper roof with glass webbing seams lasts to 15 years under optimum conditions while a complete glass web roof lasts susbtantially over 20 years under similar conditions. Further, with the apparatus of this invention the saving in labor cost of application of 24-inch wide glass webbing provides the same overall cost of roof construction notwithstanding the greater strength and durability of the complete glass webbing type surfacing.

For the purpose of making such a complete glass webbing roof the use of a uniform layer of webbing and tar is desired. For this purpose a uniform and relatively thick layer of tar on top of the webbing is necessary to protect the webbing. In this type of structure the tar adheres to the webbing, which acts as a reinforcing agent through the body of the tarry material. Accordingly, a few point-to-point contacts of the bottom portion of the tar to the roof or other surface below the webbing provide adequate adherence of that tar to the webbing and the tar adhering to the webbing thereabove is, accordingly, adequately afiixed to the surface therebelow. The problem has arisen, however, that it has not heretofore been convenient or etficient or economical to apply tar evenly to a 24-inch width of webbing. However, according to this invention such application of tar to webbing is accomplished evenly, efficiently, economically and conveniently. Usually there is a thickening of the tar during its application to such a wide webbing and heretofore, because of such characteristic of tar, the tar has usually only been afiixed to relatively narrow width of webbing, that is, 3, 4 and 6 inches of width which is applied only as a bridging between edges of strips of tar paper. However, according to the apparatus of this invention it is very easy to controllably and rapidly evenly put about three gallons of asphalt per 10 foot X 10 foot square of the roof being covered by glass webbing in view of the very close control of height of liquid over the roller as the tendency of the tar to.gum up during operation, which has heretofore been a serious deterent to such an operation, is avoided by the apparatus of this invention.

The top of surface 35 varies from 6%. inch maximum to 3 /2 inches over the surface, as 120 on which the apparatus as 10 is supported. It is 4 inches high over surface 120 on which supported when an apparatus according to the embodiment of this invention as described in Table II is horizontal which horizontal position is shown in FIGURE 1; it is 3 /2 inches high when tilted as shown in FIGURE 7. The top of the surface 35 correspondingly varies from 6 /2 to 5 inches in the embodiment of this invention as described in Table I over the ground surface 120 on which supported.

As the level of fluid in the apparatus of Table II varies from A2 gallon to 2 gallons it correspondingly provides, in the horizontal position of that apparatus, a height along wall 29 of %-inch to 2 /2 inches; as the level of fluid in the apparatus of Table I varies from /2 gallon to 3 gallons it correspondingly provides a height along wall 29 of /2 inch to 2 /2 inches of the level 114. Accordingly, the level 114 varies from only 2 /2 inches to /2-inch above the level of the line of contact of the webbing 63 with the roller 67. This provides a very delicate control of the amount of fluid carried by the webbing from the volume 111 to the surface 35, and thence, to the roofing surface 120. Generally, the line of contact 121 between the roof surface 120 and the webbing 63 is 2 to 3 feet from the slot 108 below the edge 107 of the bar 83. Accordingly, the angle 130 between the surface 120 and the bottom of the webbing 63 is quite small, i.e., an angle the tangent of which varies from only .07 to 0.16.

Although in accordance with the provision of the patent statutes, particularly preferred embodiments of this invention have been described and the principles of the invention have been described in the best mode in which it is now contemplated applying such principles, it will be understood that the operations, constructions and compositions shown and described are merely illustrative and that my invention is not limited thereto and, accordingly,

alterations and modifications which readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit of the disclosure hereinabove are intended to be included in the scope of the annexed claims which follow the hereto appended Tables I and II.

TABLE I Dimensions of apparatus of FIGS. 1-7

Item From/To Measurement Width 27-28 (interior)- 26". Length 31-29 (interior) 14". Height (s1de) 26 to top of 27.. Height (rear) 26- Arm 50 length- 54-26 25 rm 69 72-center line 67 Height of pin 72-26 5%. Wheel 46 Diameter 2. Wheel 46 Thicknes 1". Arm 50, 64 and 69-.. do V Ann 50, 64 and 69".- Width 64 length Overall 10%. Arm 64 Center line 67-74 7 Angle of 30 with respect to plane 0 26. Angle of arm 50 with respect to plane of 26. 30 length 31 33 g 33 Thickness 1 5 Diameter of eurvature 1 I Length 29". Width 103. Thickness $4" 104- Height. 7

Thickness 11 pounds.

All other items identical to Table I except following items which are deleted: 40 through 48.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for impregnating and applying roofing material comprising a fluid-tight container and handle subassembly, a web support and fluid-impregnating subassembly and a leveling subassembly,

said container and handle subassembly comprising an elongated fluid-tight container comprising two side walls and front and rear end walls and a bottom,

- joined together, said side walls being separated by the width of said container, a straight smoothly upwardly convex surface firmly supported on the front wall and extending across substantially the full width of said container, 7

a pair of vertically extending handle arms each firmly attached to a side of said container and joined at their upper ends by a transverse member, said arms extending upward and rearwardly from said container with the lengths of said handle arms defining a plane,

a plurality of wheels, each in a wheel support, said wheel supports each being firmly attached to the bottom of said container, and an axis of rotation of each of said wheels being in a line lying in an extension of the plane of said handle arms,

said webbing support and fluid-impregnating subassembly comprising a horizontal webbing immersion roller extending substantially the full width of said container and located near to and above the bottom of said container and parallel to the bottom of said container, a vertically extending rigid arm at each of the ends of said roller extending from and pivotally attached to one end of said roller at the lower end of said arm and pivotally attached at the upper end of said arm to a side of said container, said roller also pivota-lly attached at either end to a rearwardly and upwardly extending rigid webbing support arm which rearwardly and upwardly extending webbing support arm is provided with means for releasable attachment thereof to the rear wall of said container and which arm extends beyond the rear of said {container and, beyond the rear of said container is connected to a webbing roll support means, a webbing-roll support means connected at both ends thereof to said rearwardly and upwardly extending webbing support arms, one end of said roll support means 'being attached to one of said arms, the other end of said roll support means being attached to the other of said arms, said roller support means being parallel to said webbin g immersion roller and to the straight curved surface at the front end of the container, I

said leveling subassembly comprising leveler ibar supports, tension means for the leveler bar and a leveler bar, said leveler bar extending across the width of said container, a leveler bar support means firmly attached to each side of said container, said leveler bar being rigid and having a lower straight edge and being adjustably and slidaably carried on said leveler bar support means parallel to the length of said said container being open at its top, said bottom of said container having a flat portion and a sloped portion, said sloped portion being at one side of said roller means, the volume on the side of a vertical plane passing through the center of said webbing immersion roller and parallel to the length thereof between the rear and sides and bottom of said container and below the top edge of the rear wall being greater than the volume on the other side of said .plane in said container between the side wallsand 'the front wall, the height of the top of the front wall over the level of the interior of the lowermost portion of the bottom wall being less than the distance between the front wall and the rear wall and less than the width of the container whereby the amount of roofing material carried by the webbing is readily and delicately controlled.

2. An apparatus for impregnating and applying roofing material comprising a fluid-tight container and handle subassembly, a web support and fluid-impregnating subassembly and a leveling subassembly,

said container and handle subassembly comprising an said web support and fluid-impregnating subassembly comprising a horizontally extending webbing immersion rod extending substantially the full width of said container and located near the bottom of said container and parallel to the bottom of said container, a vertically extending rigid arm at both ends of said rod extending from and pivotally attache-d to one end of said rod at the lower end of said arm and pivotally attached at the upper end of said arm to a side of said container, said rod also pivotally attached at either end to a rearwardly and upwardly extending rigid webbing support arm which rearwardly and upwardly extending webbing support arm is provided with means for attachment thereof to a wall of said container and which arm extends beyond the rear of said container and, beyond the rear of said container is connected to a webbing roll support means, a webbing roll support means connected at both ends thereof to said rearwardly and upwardly extending webbing support arms, one end of said roll support means being attache-d to one of said arms, the other end of said roll support means being attached to the other of said arms, said roll support means being parallel to said webbing immersion rod and to'the straight curved surface at the front end of the container,

said leveling subassembly comprising leveler bar supports, tension means for the leveler bar and a leveler bar, said leveler bar extending across the width of said container, a leveler bar support means firmly attached to each side of said container, said leveler :bar being rigid and having a lower straight edge and being adjustably and slidably carried on said leveler bar support means parallel to the length of said first straight convexly curved surface, means on said leveler support bar positively and adjustably spacing said leveler bar from said first straight upwardly convex surface and means on either end of said leveler bar resiliently urging said leveler bar towards said straight convexly curved surface,

said container being open at its top, the volume on the References Cited by the Examiner side of a vertical plane passing through the center UNITED STATES PATENTS of said webbing immersion rod and parallel to the 231 450 8/1880 Sackett 117 102 length thereof between the rear and sides and bottom 1,1569% 10/1915 Hanlon 117 1O2 of said container and below the top edge of the rear 5 2,197,379 1940 Robinson 5 57 wall being greater than the volume on the other side 2,373,239 4/1945 P 156 575 of said plane in said container between the side walls 2,443,971 6/1948 Winzer 118-43 and the front wall, the height of the top of the front 3,131,103 4/ 1964 Kennafd 156575 Wall over the level of the interior of the lowermost 10 3,148,104 9/ 1964 PP 156575 portion of the bottom Wall being less than the dis- FOREIGN PATENTS tance between the front wall and the rear wall and 2 5 3 5 1/1909 Germany less than the width of the container whereby the amount of roofing material carried by the webbing DANIEL M, Przmary Examiner. is readily and delicately controlled. 15 DOUGLAS DRUMMOND, Examiner. 

2. AN APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING AND APPLYING ROOFING MATERIAL COMPRISING A FLUID-TIGHT CONTAINER AND HANDLE SUBASSEMBLY, A WEB SUPPORT AND FLUID-IMPREGNATING SUBASSEMBLY AND A LEVELING SUBASSEMBLY, SAID CONTAINER AND HANDLE SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FLUID-TIGHT CONTAINER COMPRISING TWO SIDE WALLS AND FRONT AND REAR END WALLS AND A BOTTOM, JOINED TOGETHER, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING SEPARATED, A STRAIGHT SMOOTHLY UPWARDLY CONVEX SURFACE FIRMLY SUPPORTED ON THE FRONT WALL AND EXTENDING ACROSS SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL WIDTH OF SAID CONTAINER, A PAIR OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING HANDLE ARMS EACH FIRMLY ATTACHED TO A SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER AND JOINED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS BY A TRANSVERSE MEMBER, SAID ARMS EXTENDING UPWARD AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID CONTAINER, SAID WEB SUPPORT AND FLUID-IMPREGNATING SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING WEBBING IMMERSION ROD EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL WIDTH OF SAID CONTAINER AND LOCATED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER AND PARALLEL TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING RIGID ARM AT BOTH ENDS OF SAID ROD EXTENDING FROM AND PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID ROD AT THE LOWER END OF SAID ARM AND PIVOTALLY ATTACHED AT THE UPPER END OF SAID ARM TO A SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID ROD ALSO PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO EITHER END TO A REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING RIGID WEBBING SUPPORT ARM WHICH REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING WEBBING SUPPORT ARM IS PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT THEREOF TO A WALL OF SAID CONTAINER AND WHICH ARM EXTENDS BEYOND THE REAR OF SAID CONTAINER AND, BEYOND THE REAR OF SAID CONTAINER IS CONNECTED TO A WEBBING ROLL SUPPORT MEANS, A WEBBING ROLL SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTED AT BOTH ENDS THEREOF TO SAID REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING WEBBING SUPPORT ARMS, ONE END OF SAID ROLL SUPPORT MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO ONE OF SAID ARMS, THE OTHER END OF SAID ROLL SUPPORT MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO THE OTHR OF SAID ARMS, SAID ROLL SUPPORT MEANS BEING PARALLEL TO SAID WEBBING IMMERSION ROD AND TO THE STRAIGHT CURVED SURFACE AT THE FRONT END OF THE CONTAINER, SAID LEVELING SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING LEVELER BAR SUPPORTS, TENSION MEANS FOR THE LEVELER BAR AND A LEVELER BAR, SAID LEVELER BAR EXTENDING ACROSS THE WIDTH OF SAID CONTAINER, A LEVELER BAR SUPPORT MEANS FIRMLY ATTACHED TO EACH SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID LEVELER BAR BEING RIGID AND HAVING A LOWER STRAIGHT EDGE AND BEING ADJUSTABLY AND SLIDABLY CARRIED ON SAID LEVELER BAR SUPPORT MEANS PARALLEL TO THE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST STRAIGHT CONVEXLY SURFACE, MEANS ON SAID LEVELER SUPPORT BAR POSITIVELY AND ADJUSTABLY SPACING SAID LEVELER BAR FROM SAID FIRST STRAIGHT UPWARDLY CONVEX SURFACE AND MEANS ON EITHER END OF SAID LEVELER BAR RESILIENTLY URGING SAID LEVELER BAR TOWARDS SAID STRAIGHT CONVEXLY CURVED SURFACE, SAID CONTAINER BEING OPEN AT ITS TOP, THE VOLUME ON THE SIDE OF A VERTICAL PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE CENTER OF SAID WEBBING IMMERSION ROD AND PARALLEL TO THE LENGTH THEREOF BETWEEN THE REAR AND SIDES AND BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER AND BELOW THE TOP EDGE OF THE REAR WALL BEING GREATER THAN THE VOLUME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PLANE IN SAID CONTAINER BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS AND THE FRONT WALL, THE HEIGHT OF THE TOP OF THE FRONT WALL OVER THE LEVEL OF THE INTERIOR OF THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF THE BOTTOM WALL BEING LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT WALL AND RHE REAR WALL AND LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE CONTAINER WHEREBY THE AMOUNT OF ROOFING MATERIAL CARRIED BY THE WEBBING IS READILY AND DELICATELY CONTROLLED. 